Chapter 318: Chapter 318

"Conrad, you’re not going to break up with Anna Thornton, are you?" Marilyn Ford asked him.

Upon hearing this, Conrad Sterling looked up, displeased.

Marilyn Ford hadn’t taken on any work recently, mostly wandering different countries to relax, occasionally watching a couple of shows.

It seemed she had just landed from a plane not long ago, still wearing a long tribal dress from some tropical country, unable to adapt to the temperature in Aethelgard, she had layered a cashmere coat on top.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Even if we broke up, we are still friends, right? You haven’t contacted me in months, am I not allowed to ask about how you’re doing?" Marilyn Ford laughed self-deprecatingly. "I don’t know if you’ve seen the news that Wyatt Jagger is pursuing me, I’m considering whether to accept him. So when I saw the rumors in this magazine today, I came specifically to inquire about you and Anna Thornton. I don’t want to start a new relationship only to have her compete with me again."

Marilyn Ford meant that it was Anna Thornton competing with her, as she saw Conrad Sterling as someone Anna Thornton had snatched away.

Conrad Sterling understood; Marilyn Ford showing up today, saying all these things, was nothing more than an attempt to provoke.

The man didn’t even look at the magazine she handed over, only replied with a deeply hurtful statement: "How Anna Thornton and I are doing is none of your business, you don’t need to ask me about any decisions you make."

Upon hearing this, Marilyn Ford felt her heart being yanked downward by an invisible hand.

Could he really be this ruthless towards her?

Secretly clenching her teeth, Marilyn Ford didn’t want to show weakness in front of Conrad Sterling, yet couldn’t help but chase after his departing figure, asking unwillingly, "Do you trust her that much? Anna Thornton is currently filming in Veridia, rumors have it that she hooked up with the male lead in the bathroom!"

"Conrad, Anna Thornton is a very scheming woman, I just want to warn you! She approached you with a purpose right from the start! Can’t you see that? She’s using you as a stepping stone to climb up."

"..." Conrad Sterling knew.

He wasn’t afraid of Anna Thornton using him; what he feared now was her having no ulterior motives towards him.

As long as she wanted to climb, he could anytime offer her a ladder.

"Once she can’t benefit from you, she’ll kick you aside and target another man."

"Another man?" Hearing the words he disliked, Conrad Sterling finally reacted.

"She has me already; what other ladder does she need?" President Sterling responded confidently.

The new drama’s male lead?

Compared to Conrad Sterling, what does Wyatt Jagger amount to?

With ladders erected by Conrad Sterling, Anna Thornton could reach any height she desired; the self-assured man possessed such confidence.

Marilyn Ford’s words were paradoxical.

She herself had once gained plenty from Conrad Sterling, if Anna Thornton had managed to win him over, how could she abandon a watermelon for a sesame seed?

If Wyatt Jagger had Conrad Sterling’s capabilities, Marilyn Ford would have agreed to him long ago.

Coming to say these things to Conrad Sterling today, Marilyn Ford merely wanted to destabilize the man to see if she still had a chance.

Unfortunately, she had explicitly hinted at Wyatt Jagger’s pursuit of her earlier, and her potential acceptance, yet Conrad Sterling had no reaction at all.

"Conrad, is there really no chance of us rekindling?"

Marilyn Ford stared at that tall, handsome, yet familiar back, still refusing to admit defeat.

Though she claimed to be on a healing vacation right now, the time was actually spent easing her heartbreak.

After breaking up with Conrad Sterling, initially Marilyn Ford just felt it was too sudden.

As time went by, the pain didn’t fade; instead, it intensified, because the more she thought about it, the greater she felt her loss.

Even with Wyatt Jagger’s pursuit and introductions from the Ford Family parents, Marilyn Ford had attempted interacting with some elite men inside and outside the industry.

But ultimately, she couldn’t find anyone more outstanding than Conrad Sterling.

She isn’t willing to just let go!

Even if Conrad is momentarily captivated by Anna Thornton, it’s nothing but a fleeting novelty.

Marilyn Ford knows how deeply ambitious Conrad Sterling is.

Hence, he wouldn’t marry a woman who wouldn’t aid his career.

Though Conrad Sterling commands high status now, a single pillar is bound to be weak, to secure his footing in Aethelgard, the best choice is to marry within one of the four major families.

And she stands as the finest choice!

Marilyn Ford believes as long as she keeps waiting, her chances remain.

But she can’t sit idly by, waiting for Conrad Sterling to lose interest in Anna Thornton?

Who knows when that might be!

She must take action...

As Marilyn Ford considered this, she realized her phone had been ringing non-stop.

Pulling out her phone, she found Wyatt Jagger had called her multiple times.

Conrad Sterling had just reached the lounge hall, coincidentally running into Finn Grant, also there for business talks today.

Finn Grant gave Conrad Sterling a mocking smile: "I saw Marilyn Ford was looking for you, seems you two might get back together after all. Guess our bet doesn’t need to continue, Anna Thornton ultimately belongs to me."

Mentioning Anna Thornton, Conrad Sterling didn’t engage, instead countered: "How’s your entertainment company doing? Heard it’s yet to sign a single artist?"

Finn Grant was displeased with Conrad Sterling’s phrasing: "Please mind your words, not a single artist signed, because I haven’t signed anyone at all! With The Grant Group as the backing, many are eager to embrace these resources. But unlike you, I started this company solely for Anna Thornton, all my resources are dedicated solely to her. Unlike you, who makes a misstep and ends up entangled with an ex-girlfriend, later scrambling to change names."

Finn Grant’s gaze at Conrad Sterling seemed to convey ’you are already tainted’. Thıs content belongs to Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

Not only do you have an ex-girlfriend, your company has one too, utterly unworthy of Anna Thornton.

"I hope your entertainment company opens within your lifetime." Conrad Sterling ’blessed’ him.

"Let me tell you, Sterling, that day will come. I’m prepared to offer exorbitant terms to take Anna from you." Finn Grant confidently declared.

Finn Grant and Conrad Sterling had been clashing in business recently, privately not having seen each other for a while.

Today, Finn Grant couldn’t help finding him increasingly obnoxious, insisting on getting the upper hand in their verbal sparring: "I heard you went to Veridia with Anna Thornton recently, even got into a lawsuit with Holly Sutton, pouring out efforts in vain. Yet, even now, aren’t you returning home empty-handed!"

"..." Conrad Sterling remained silent, lips slightly pursed.

Finn Grant assumed he had no words left, his face shining with the smile of a victor: "Since you’ve conceded defeat, it’s my turn next. I heard Anna Thornton plans to relaunch her children’s brand, just in time, I’m preparing to open a mall in Veridia, bigger than your Starlight City! I’ll make sure to find her, have a good~ talk about collaboration."

Those ’good’ words Finn Grant deliberately dragged out, evoking amorous ambiguity.

Conrad Sterling dismissed his boasts and turned to leave.

Finn Grant felt he had won; despite Conrad Sterling’s prolonged efforts failing to win Anna Thornton’s favor and inevitably getting ousted from the game.

But reportedly, Anna Thornton had recently been associated with some Jagger in the crew.

He had already scouted Anna Thornton’s filming location, planning to head over today to assert dominance.

Yet unexpectedly, before departure, he received an emergency call about a project issue overseas.

Upon finishing the call, Finn Grant smashed his phone into pieces.

"Damn you, Conrad Sterling!"

"You damn well use the same tactic every time to hold me back?!!"

After venting, he still had to attend to overseas matters!

The Veridia itinerary and mall plans had to be delayed temporarily.

After all, the Grant Family now relied solely on Finn Grant!